Bridle assembly for a kite

ABSTRACT

A bridle assembly for attaching a control line to a kite has a bridle line extending between a first attachment point located at or near a first wing tip of a kite and a second attachment point located near a leading edge of the kite away from the wing tip. A pulley is positioned about the bridle line and is movable along the bridle line. The pulley has a third attachment point for a kite control line.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application 60/621,325 filed on Oct. 21, 2004.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a bridle assembly for attaching control lines to a kite.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Sports kites comprise an aerodynamic flying wing restrained and controlled via control lines extending to the kite from a user manipulated control bar. A typical sports kite has four control lines. Two front lines attached to the wing tips near the leading edge and two rear lines attached to the wing tips near the trailing edge. A user can control the angle-of-attack of the wing by controlling tension on the front and rear lines.

The profile of the wing and the attachment points of the front control lines determine the profile alignment point of the kite. The profile alignment point determines the angle-of-attack of the kite when flown entirely on its front lines. This is the minimum angle-of-attack and produces the minimum kite power. This minimum angle-of-attack must be positive, approximately 2 to 4 degrees, to keep the kite flying. If the angle-of-attack is negative the kite will collapse and fall to the ground.

A problem with modern sports kite designs is that the kite still produces significant power when flown at the minimum angle-of-attack on front line tension only. This power is sufficient to pull a rider off their feet and drag them into potential danger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bridle assembly for a kite which overcomes or eliminates the above disadvantages or at least provides the public with a useful alternative. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bridle assembly for a kite which enables a rider to achieve a zero or negative angle of attack.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a bridle assembly for attaching a control line to a kite having a leading edge extending in either direction to wing tips, the bridle comprising:

-   -   a first attachment point located at or near a first wing tip of         a kite,     -   a second attachment point located near a leading edge of the         kite away from the first wing tip,     -   a bridle line extending between the first and second attachment         points, and     -   a pulley movable along the bridle line and having a third         attachment point for a kite control line.

Preferably, the bridle line is movably connected to the second attachment point and is connected to a second wing tip of the kite.

Preferably, the bridle line is fixedly connected to the first and second wing tips.

Preferably, the pulley is positioned between the first and second attachment points.

Preferably, the bridle includes a stop attached to the bridle line for limiting movement of the bridle line passed the second attachment point.

Preferably, the second attachment point comprises a ring.

Preferably, the pulley comprises a ring about the bridle line.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a kite comprising:

-   -   a wing having a leading edge, a trailing edge and first and         second wing tips,     -   an attachment point on each wing tip adjacent the trailing edge         for attaching rear control lines to the kite,     -   a bridle assembly for attaching front control lines to the kite,         the bridle assembly comprising two attachment loops located near         the leading edge away from the wing tips, two bridle lines         passing through respective ones of the attachment loops and         having first ends connected to the first wing tip and second         ends connected to the second wing tip, and two pulleys movable         along respective ones of the bridle lines and having attachment         points for attaching front control lines to the pulleys.

Preferably, the kite includes stops attached to the bridle lines for limiting movement of the bridle lines through the attachment loops.

Preferably, the second attachment points and pulleys comprises rings.

Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following drawings and description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a kite with a bridle assembly according to the invention,

FIG. 2 illustrates a bridle attachment point on or near the kite leading edge,

FIG. 3 illustrates a pulley of the bridle system,

FIG. 4 illustrates the kite flown with a positive angle of attack, and

FIG. 5 illustrates the kites with a negative angle of attack.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the drawings there is depicted a sports kite comprising an aerodynamic wing 1, of known type, having a leading edge 2, a trailing edge 3, and first and second wing tips 4 and 5. The kite is restrained and controlled by front and rear control lines 6 and 7 connected to a control bar (not shown). The rear control lines 7 are connected to respective wing tips 4, 5 at a point 8 adjacent the trailing edge 3. The front control lines 6 are connected to the kite via a bridle assembly discussed below. For simplicity only one half of the bridle assembly will be described. It will be apparent to the skilled addressee that a symmetrical kite has two complimentary bridles, one for each of the front control lines.

A bridle assembly for a front line has a first attachment point 9 located at a first wing tip 4 adjacent the leading edge 2 and a second attachment point 10 located at or near the leading edge 2 at a position away from the wing tip 4. In the illustrated embodiment the position of second attachment point 10 is approximately mid-way between wing tip 4 and the kite apex 11. Second attachment point 10 comprises a ring 10 secured at or near leading edge 2 of the kite.

A bridle line extends from the first attachment point 9 through the attachment ring 10 on leading edge 2 and to a point 12 on the opposite wing tip 5. The bridle line has two sections, a first angle-control section 13 between attachment point 9 and attachment ring 10 and a second span-limiter section 14 between attachment ring 10 and point 12 on an opposite wing tip 5. The bridle line passes through attachment ring 10 and is free to slide therethrough. A stopper ball 16 is provided on the span- limiter section of the bridle line to limit movement of the bridle line through ring 10. This prevents tension on the bridle folding the wing and collapsing it.

Referring to FIG. 3, a pulley in the form of a ring 15 is positioned about angle-control portion 13 of the bridle line between first attachment point 9 and attachment ring 10. The front control line 6 is attached to pulley ring 15.

The bridle assembly of the invention allows the profile alignment, and therefore the minimum angle-of-attack, to be adjusted by altering tension on the front and rear lines. Referring to FIG. 4, when tension is applied to the rear line 7 pulley 15 moves along the bridle line 13 so that front line tension is on attachment point 9 of wing tip 4. This provides a positive angle of attack and allows the kite to fly. Referring to FIG. 5, if tension on rear line 7 is released pulley 15 moves along bridle line 13 adjusting front line tension to attachment ring 10, via stopper ball 16. The profile alignment point moves forward of the leading edge 2 of the kite resulting in a negative angle of attack so that the kite is unable to produce lift. The kite will stop flying until front and rear line tension is equalized again.

(Please explain how the span-limiter works when the kite is flying).

In an alternative embodiment the span-limiter section 14 of the bridle line 15 omitted so that bridle line extends from point 9 on wing tip 4 to second attachment point 10 only. In this arrangement profile alignment and angle-of-attack can be control without the span-limiter function.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or elements having known equivalents then such are included as if individually set forth herein.

Embodiments of the invention have been described, however it is understood that variations, improvement or modifications can take place without departure from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims. 

1. A bridle assembly for attaching a control line to a kite having a leading edge extending in either direction to wing tips, the bridle comprising: a first attachment point located at or near a first wing tip of a kite, a second attachment point located near a leading edge of the kite away from the first wing tip, a bridle line extending between the first and second attachment points, and a pulley movable along the bridle line and having a third attachment point for a kite control line.
 2. The bridle assembly of claim 1 wherein the bridle line is movably connected to the second attachment point and is connected to a second wing tip of the kite.
 3. The bridle assembly of claim 2 wherein the bridle line is fixedly connected to the first and second wing tips.
 4. The bridle assembly of claim 2 wherein the pulley is positioned between the first and second attachment points.
 5. The bridle assembly of claim 1 further including a stop attached to the bridle line for limiting movement of the bridle line passed the second attachment point.
 6. The bridle assembly of claim 1 wherein the second attachment point comprises a ring.
 7. The bridle assembly of claim 1 wherein the pulley comprises a ring about the bridle line.
 8. A kite comprising: a wing having a leading edge, a trailing edge and first and second wing tips, an attachment point on each wing tip adjacent the trailing edge for attaching rear control lines to the kite, a bridle assembly for attaching front control lines to the kite, the bridle assembly comprising two attachment loops located near the leading edge away from the wing tips, two bridle lines passing through respective ones of the attachment loops and having first ends connected to the first wing tip and second ends connected to the second wing tip, and two pulleys movable along respective ones of the bridle lines and having attachment points for attaching front control lines to the pulleys.
 9. The kite of claim 8 further including stops attached to the bridle lines for limiting movement of the bridle lines through the attachment loops.
 10. The kite of claim 8 wherein the second attachment points and pulleys comprises rings. 